Jason Aldean Wheels Into Town

Jason performs for downtown Nashville lunch crowd.

Bob Paxman

Jason Aldean showed up for a downtown concert in Nashville, Tuesday (Nov. 8), by a unique mode of transportation—a train. Jason rode the train with 120 nationwide contest winners, who all arrived at Riverfront Station in Nashville before Jason's special afternoon concert. The event celebrated the new AMC original series Hell on Wheels, a western that takes place around the time of the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Hundreds of fans lined the station area while others caught the show from the pedestrian bridge that towers over the Cumberland River in Music City. Rising star Margaret Durante performed several songs, including a crowd favorite called "I Ain't Your Mama," before Jason took the stage for an acoustic set. "Some of you have been here a while," Jason announced before launching into his single "Tattoos on This Town." After "Amarillo Sky," Jason told the crowd, "It's been a while since I rode on a train." Jason wrapped the unique performance with his recent No. 1 smash, "Dirt Road Anthem," and "My Kinda Party."

After the show, Jason told CountryWeekly.com that the concert was the perfect way to kick off CMA Awards week. "We got to do an acoustic show, which is something different and something we don't always do," Jason said. Asked about his Country Music Association award nomination for Entertainer of the Year, the night's top prize, Jason laughed and recalled, "I was actually asleep when I found out that I was nominated. I woke up pretty quick after that."

Jason also noted that he had seen a preview of Hell on Wheels and added that he had a few favorite western movies of his own. "I like the Young Guns movies," he said. "My favorites are probably Unforgiven and Tombstone. I really like those."